Taoyuan Station of Agro-ecosystem Research(TYA) is located in Taoyuan county, Hunan province (111o27’E, 28o55’N) and was established in 1978, a section of the Institute of Subtropical Agriculture（ISA）. TYA represents southern combined ecosystem of agriculture and forestry in hilly region with red clay soil, and is responsible for the monitoring the successions of agro-ecosystem in the region. The main research fields cover: the succession of agro-ecosystem and key environmental elements; the variations and adjustments of soil nutrient cycling and soil fertility; irrigation techniques and increase of water use efficiency in agricultural system; the biogeochemical processes and microbial functions of soil carbon and nitrogen cycling and restoration of degraded ecosystem. As a base for researches for agricultural and forestry ecosystems in red-earth hilly region, It has been certified as a member of the Chinese Ecosystem Research Network (CERN), the National Field Research Stations of China (CNERN)and International Long Term Ecological Research（ILTER）. Besides, the station was qualified as a national base of scientific training for teenagers.